Why broadband over power lines is a bad idea
David Coursey
<http://reviews-zdnet.com.com/AnchorDesk/Coursey/4620-6033_16-4000010.html?tag=byline>
Executive Editor, AnchorDesk
Friday, Feb. 27, 2004
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Since last we visited
<http://reviews-zdnet.com.com/4520-7297_16-5089730.html> the issue of
transmitting the Internet over power lines
<http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1104-5163739.html> (the big electric company
kind, not the wires in your walls), the Federal Communications
Commission <http://www.fcc.gov/>, lapdog to the monied interests, has
issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), the second step in making
broadband over power lines (BPL) a reality.
Use your home's
power lines
If you want to make a broadband Net connection available in every corner
of your home, our editors recommend a power-line access point like this
one from Siemens.
Siemens SpeedStream Powerline 802.11b Wireless Access Point
<http://reviews-zdnet.com.com/Siemens_SpeedStream_Powerline_802_11b_Wireless_Access_Point/4505-3245_16-20684674.html?tag=adpb>
<http://reviews-zdnet.com.com/Siemens_SpeedStream_Powerline_802_11b_Wireless_Access_Point/4505-3245_16-20684674.html?tag=adpb>
<http://reviews-zdnet.com.com/Siemens_SpeedStream_Powerline_802_11b_Wireless_Access_Point/4014-3245_16-20684674.html?tag=adpb>
In a rare moment of governmental clarity, an NPRM is precisely what it
seems to be: Advance notice of how the FCC is going to give zillionaires
what they want at the expense of us ordinary folks. The NPRM follows a
Notice of Inquiry that was issued last April and generated more than
5,000 comments, many from angry ham radio operators. HERE'S THE DEAL:
BPL is a technology that uses radio waves, transmitted over power lines,
to provide broadband Internet or other data connectivity. The problem
with BPL is simple physics: Radio waves like to fly off into space. When
they do, interference results. In order to get broadband speeds, BPL
uses a large number of frequencies, some of which are capable of
traveling literally around the world even on the small transmitter power
that BPL systems use. BPL would operate as an unlicensed radio service
under Part 15 of the FCC's rules. This is the same section that allows
most of the unlicensed devices used in home and business. All of these
devices are supposed to operate in such a way that they don't interfere
with licensed radio services. Among the leaders in the fight against BPL
is the amateur radio community
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2004/02/23/1/?nc=1>. Ham radio
operators, including myself, see BPL as a potentially huge source of
communications-disrupting interference. The hams have found an ally in
the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA),
the Commerce Department agency charged with coordinating the federal
government's own radio systems. The NTIA has warned the FCC that, unless
it's carefully regulated, BPL could cause significant interference to
government users of shortwave radio frequencies. The NTIA is conducting
its own BPL study, though it has not yet been released. Another study,
by ARRL, the national organization for amateur radio, is also due to be
released in the next few weeks to months. WHY SHOULD YOU CARE about all
this? Because BPL could have a negative impact on the entire world of
radio communication. Remember what I said earlier about the radio waves
flying off into space? Even the low-power signals BPL would employ can,
under the right conditions, travel around the globe. That means BPL
systems in the United States could cause interference in places far
removed from whatever benefit BPL is supposed to provide. Interference
is pollution and, once it starts, can prove impossible to stop. If not
properly managed, BPL has the potential to ruin large portions of the
shortwave radio spectrum. Like old-growth forests, radio spectrum is
precious and for much the same reason: They just aren't making any more
of it. What we have needs to be wisely managed for the greatest public
benefit. BPL needs to be watched carefully to make sure a technology we
don't really need--isn't there enough broadband out there
already?--doesn't cause problems we'll never be able to resolve. If
you're interested in this issue, please read some of the documents
available and make your feelings known
<http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/ecfs/Upload/> to the FCC
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